Win a dashcam

The Herreshoff was an automobile built in both Detroit, Michigan, and Troy, New York, by the Herreshoff Motor Company during 1909–14.

The Herreshoff started as a small car with a 24 hp (18 kW) four-cylinder engine and was made with three different models. Later models were upgraded to six-cylinder engines with capacities up to 3.8 liters. For 1911, Herreshoff had a roadster with a rudimentary rumble seat priced at US$950; by contrast, the high-volume Oldsmobile Runabout was priced at US$650, the Ford Model N and Western's Gale Model A were US$500, the Black was $375, and the Success was US$250.

A light car with a 16 hp (12 kW) engine was introduced in 1914. Fisher produced bodies for the company.

The Herreshoff Motor Company was founded by Charles Frederick Herreshoff (1880–1954), nephew of famed yacht builder Captain Nathanael Greene Herreshoff I. In addition to the aforementioned roadster (the Model 25), the company in 1911 offered a Touring Car, Tourabout, and Runabout, each priced at $1500.

Models Offered

• 4A-40:
  • Engine: 166 cu in (2.7 l) four-cylinder Lycoming
  • Power: 37 hp (28 kW; 38 PS)
• 6A-45:
  • Engine: 230 cu in (3.8 l) Rutenberg six
  • Power: Claimed 45 hp (34 kW; 46 PS)
  • Optional: 55 hp (41 kW; 56 PS) six
  • Wheelbase: 122 inches
• Model 25: Roadster with rudimentary rumble seat
• Touring Car: Offered in 1911 for $1500
• Tourabout: Offered in 1911 for $1500
• Runabout: Offered in 1911 for $1500

Distribution and Production

The cars were distributed through agencies across the Midwest, including Kansas, Nebraska, West Texas, and Oklahoma. The pricing strategy positioned the Herreshoff competitively against other manufacturers of the time.

Despite its price point, the Geronimo proved popular enough that the company built a new factory measuring 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m²) on the outskirts of Enid, completed in the fall of 1917. As a result, both production and capitalization expanded. In January 1919, the company sold another $500,000 in stock. By 1919, unit prices had climbed as high as $1995.

On August 14, 1920, the plant suffered a severe fire that caused $250,000 in damage. Insurance only covered $65,000, leading to the company's closure.

Workforce and Legacy

At its peak, between 40 and up to 125 workers were employed at the factory. The company produced and sold a total of around 600 cars; however, production levels may have reached as high as 1000 units. Only one surviving example has been restored and found in a field near LaCross, Kansas, in 1972. It is now owned by the Enid Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America and is still regularly used in parades and community historical events.